Most of what I know about sheep is hearsay, undocumented, and not flattering. They are reputed to be stupid, lacking in initiative, and likely to fall over cliffs or entangle themselves in brush. They are not playful. Lambs have an innocent charm, but the adult animal is stolid and a little boring.
The Virginia case could have implications reaching far beyond these churches in Virginia. Other denominations could be affected if secular courts start making decisions about church governance. And what happens once we start down that slippery slope? This is the focus of an editorial from a newspaper based in Tidewater, Va.
Dr. Jenny Te Paa, a Maori theologian, presented the second keynote at the Anglican Communion Conference this week at General Theological seminary. The Rev. Susan Russell, blogging at the event, made an interesting observation about what she saw unfold between Te Paa and Archbishop Drexel Gomez as a result of Te Paa’s critique of the covenant process.
The Seattle Times has a Q&A on Katharine Jefferts Schori, noting that her participation in the “Healing Our Planet Earth” conference signals how she is merging her vocations as a former oceanographer and presently as Presiding Bishop.
Some of our number have been in Seattle this weekend, not for the numerous faith conferences and festivals but for the Episcopal Communicators Conference. Exploring the theme of “”Emerging Communications for an Emerging Church,” several speakers talked about the role of communications in ministry in these times. The Cafe was also recognized in the 28th Annual Polly Bond Awards.
RNS has a piece on Episcopalian monastery life, noting that “unlike Catholic counterparts, they enjoy independence from church hierarchy.” The article points out how many people don’t realize there are Anglican or Protestant orders, and gives a short summary of the history of monasticism during and since the Reformation. Central to the revival of monastic practices was the influence of women in the latter of the 19th century, according to the article.
Our grandchildren remind us that children are born with an innate joy in music. Four-year-old Lily has found her voice in creating tunes and lyrics, which she sings in her bath or first thing upon waking. Her sister, Nola, 3, quickly learns words to songs on the radio concerning adult concepts of love and yearning, which she loudly belts out as if on stage. And John, 3, is a guitar player who wildly strums his made-up pieces usually ending with the ABC song.
Emmaus is where we go when life gets to be too much for us . . . the place we go in order to escape—a bar, a movie, wherever it is we throw up our hands and say, “Let the whole thing go hang. It makes no difference anyway.”
NYT: As part of the Bear Stearns culture, molded by the former chairman, Alan C. Greenberg, 1,000 senior managing directors gave away 4 percent of